Angels’ Shohei Ohtani has ‘earned’ free agency right, agent says
The Los Angeles Angels will most likely have a tough time stopping Shohei Ohtani from testing free agency. Nez Balelo, Shohei Ohtani’s agent, didn’t appear overly optimistic in regards to the Angels’ probabilities of locking up Ohtani quickly when asked on Monday if he was open to negotiating a contract extension throughout spring coaching.
“I’ve all the time been open to it,” Balelo mentioned. “However there’s a number of layers to this one, and Shohei’s earned the proper to play by means of the 12 months, discover free agency, and we’ll see the place it shakes out.”
Shohei Ohtani is within the last 12 months of his contract with the Angels. Los Angeles can pay the two-way star a $30 million wage for the 2023 season. Ohtani may command the richest contract in MLB historical past.
Ohtani sidestepped questions on probably signing an extension when he arrived at spring coaching.
“I’ve mentioned it earlier than, I’ll say it once more — we’re taking at some point at a time,” Balelo added. “I’m not placing the cart earlier than the horse on this one.”
If Ohtani doesn’t signal an extension and hits free agency, MLB’s prime spenders are anticipated to pursue the famous person. There are already rumors that the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets are getting ready to make an enormous play for Ohtani in free agency.
The Angels have shot down hypothesis that the may commerce Ohtani through the season. Los Angeles may re-think its stance in the event that they aren’t contenders this summer season and it seems that Ohtani will head elsewhere subsequent season.
Ohtani may look to hitch one other staff that offers him a greater probability of successful a championship. The Angels haven’t made the playoffs since signing Ohtani for the 2018 season Los Angeles has an eight-year playoff drought.
Ohtani was the runner-up for the 2022 AL MVP award and the fourth-place finisher within the 2022 AL Cy Younger race. The Angels’ star hit 34 dwelling runs and pitched to a 2.33 ERA.
Within the 2021 season, Ohtani gained the AL MVP award with 46 dwelling runs, a .965 OPS and a 3.18 ERA.
